Archive of: MACULAR DEGENERATION

he team behind a smartphone lens adapter and app—which allows users to conduct extensive eye exams on patients—has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the new invention, according to Mashable.The eye exam kit, called Peek Retina, was created by a team of eye-care professionals (ECP), software developers, and product designers, and aims to increase access to high-quality eye care around the world, Mashable reported. The kit was developed through collaboration between the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the University of Strathclyde, and the NHS Glasgow Centre for Ophthalmic Research. according to Mashable, the adapter is clipped over the camera of a smartphone to allow health workers to see inside the eye and capture high-quality images, which can then be sent to physicians for diagnosis. “It removes the need for traditional ophthalmoscopes and bulky cameras, enabling examinations in any part of the world.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the chief cause of blindness for people ages 55 and older in the United States. A rising number of data suggest that nutritional intake of antioxidants- including lutein , zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids- may help decrease the risk of AMD and help improve vision. Eye health professionals can play an important role in educating patients about the power of nutrition. Since the body is unable to produce these antioxidants , lutein and zeaxanthin must come from dietary intake or from a form of supplements. Some studies suggest that participants who took the AREDS formulation with lutein and zeaxanthin had an 18 percent reduced risk of developing advanced AMD over a 5 year study, and participants who had low levels and intake before the study began were 25 percent less likely to develop advanced AMD compared to participants with similar dietary intake who were not taking lutein and zeaxanthin supplements.